US3748539A - Remote self-contained portable readout device - Google Patents

Abstract

A self-contained portable device for displaying a reading of information available at a receptacle (such as the remotely located receptacle of a remote meter reading system) is disclosed which includes a casing having an interior chamber, with the casing further including an outstanding plug portion for removable connection to the receptacle; display means located in the interior chamber; electrical supply means located in the interior chamber; and electrical circuit means located in the interior chamber and energized by said supply means for causing the display means to display a reading representative of the information. Novel ejection means are also disclosed for facilitating removal of the device from the receptacle into which it is plugged and various constructional features are disclosed for simply and compactly housing the various components of the device and making them available for repair and/or replacement.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 Seltzer REMOTE SELF-CONTAINED PORTABLE READOUT DEVICE [7 51 Inventor: Daniel A. Seltzer, Cincinnati, Ohio [73] Assignee: Gamon-Calmet Industries, Inc., Florence, Ky.

[22] Filed: Sept. 24, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 183,475

52 US. Cl. 317/120, 317/101 R, 339/45 R,

7 340/366 R 51 1111. Cl. G08b 5/00,!10213 1/08 58 Field 6: Search 340/366 R, 366 E,

. 340/310, 334; 317/99, 101 R, 118, 126; 339/45 R, 45 M [56] References Cited 9 July 24, 1973 Primary Examiner-Robert K. Schaefer Assistant Examiner-Gerald P. Tolin Attorney-Lerner, David & Littenberg [57] ABSTRACT A self-contained portable device for displaying a reading of information available at a receptacle (such as the remotely located receptacle of a remote meter reading system) is disclosed which includes a casing having an interior chamber, with the casing further including an outstanding plug portion for removable connection to the receptacle; display means located in the interior chamber; electrical supply means located in the interior chamber; and electrical circuit means located in the interior chamber and energized by said supply means for causing the display means to display a reading representative of the information. Novel ejection means are also disclosed for facilitating removal of the device from the receptacle into which it is plugged and various constructional features are disclosed for simply and compactly housing the various components of the device and making them available for repair and/or replacement.

13 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED Jul 2 4 7 SHEET 1 [IF 2 PATENIEDJULZMQIS SHEET 2 [If 2 FIG. 2

REMOTE SELF-CONTAINED PORTABLE READOUT DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to remote visual readout devices of the type employed to remotely read a fluid meter, and more particularly relates to such devices which are self-contained, completely portable, and of improved construction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As well known in the art, a conventional fluid meter such as a water meter normally includes a register portion therof wherein a series of odometer wheels are driven (by mechanical or magnetic coupling) in response to the flow of fluid through the meter.

In recent years, much emphasis has been placed on the desirability of being able to read the meter from a remote location thereby eliminating the requirement for the meter reader to enter the premises wherein the meter is situated and also making meter reading possible for meters which are generally inaccessible.

Generally speaking, remote telemetering of fluid meters such as water meters is being accomplished by either pneumatic or electrical means. Typical of pneumatic remote telemetering systems is the system described and claimed in U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 769,692 filed Oct. 22, 1968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,626,696, in the name of Ronald A. Munier and Norman L. Meyerson and entitled Pneumatic Remote Readout System for Meters" and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention.

In terms of electrical remote telemetering, prior art systems have evolved wherein electrical information representative of fluid located is brought by cabling from the meter register to a remotely located receptacle which provides the intended take-off point for meter reading and/or recordation. In systems of this type, the metermen (or women) are provided with a portable visual readout device which is plugged into the remotely located receptacle to provide a visual reading of the water flow through the meter.

Typical prior art visual readout devices, of the type over which the instant invention is intended to be an improvement, generally include two portions: the plug portion which is-plugged into and received by the remotely located receptacle, and the readout portion including the display means, the electrical supply, etc. These two portions are interconnected by a suitable length of cabling. As can be appreciated, such systems are relatively bulky to work with, complex and expensive to manufacture (requiring double casings, protected cabling, joining same, etc.) and have many associated disadvantages'which the instant invention effectively eliminates.

Another problem associated with prior art remote readout devices relates to the plug portion of the two part system. As suggested above, such plug portion normally carries a plurality of conductive pins which are received by appropriate apertures in the remote receptacle which provides the take off point for the meter reading system. With a plurality of tightly fitting pins, difficulty is experienced in removing the plug portion from the receptacle when the meter reading is complete. In the prior art, and to facilitate removal, ejector apparatus is provided which includes a bell crank lever arrangement one end of which is bifurcated so as to provide a pair of edge surfaces which swing into engagement with the receptacle (to eject the plug portion therefrom) when the opposite end of the bell crank lever arrangement is depressed by the operator. Al-

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In contradistinction to the prior art, the instant invention provides a remote visual readout device which is a totally self-contained, portable, unitary device which completely eliminates the prior art systems involving a plug, readout portion and cabling therebetween. Thus the device of the instant invention includes a single casing having an interior chamber with the casing further including an outstanding plug portion for removable connection with the receptacle from which the information is being received and wherein the display means, the electrical supply means and the electrical circuit means for the device are all located within the interior chamber of the casing.

As an additional feature of the instant invention, an ejector arrangement is provided wherein a relatively large planar ejector plate is employed to push-off" from the remote receptacle when the reading is complete. Such plate is a marked improvement over the aforementioned edge surfaces provided in prior art ejector arrangements. Additionally, and in accordance with the instant invention, finger depressing plates for operating the ejector arrangement are disposed on opposite sides of the handle of the device of the instant invention to facilitate operation by either left handed or right handed people.

Finally, a novel split case construction and interior arrangement for supporting the components of the device are provided, such constructional features minimizing production costs and greatly facilitating assembly and disassembly for repair and/or replacement of parts. Y

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS .OF T HE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational'view, partly in section, of one half of the self-contained, portable readout device of the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective front view of the self-contained, portable readout device of the instant invention.

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the lines llllll of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION ments l8 and 20 in open communication with one another. Integrally projecting from therear surface 22 of the readout device areplug support plates 21, 23 which carry aplug portion 24 housing a plurality of aperturedsockets 26 which telescopically receive corresponding pins disposed in a receptacle (not shown) remotely located from the meter intended to be read by thedevice 10. Thedevice 10 further includes anintegral handle portion 28.

The electrical components and characteristics of thedevice 10 can be understood by referring to US. Pat. application Ser. No. 160,398 filed July 7, 1971 in the name of Daniel Seltzer and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention, it being understood that the disclosure of said application is incorporated herein by specific reference thereto. For purposes of understanding this aspect of the instant invention, it is sufficient to note that located within thecasing interior 16 is: the display means 30, for example a plurality ofconventional display tubes 30 supportably mounted on a printedcircuit board 32 such that thebulbs 30 are opposite adisplay window 34; electrical supply means such as a plurality of rechargeable batteries 36 (which may be recharged via conductive pins 37); and electrical circuit means broadly designated 38 mounted on a printedcircuit board 40 for causing the display means 30 to display a reading representative of the information detected by thesockets 26 when theplug portion 24 is plugged into the corresponding receptacle associated with the water meter being remotely read.

From the brief description thus far presented, one of the major advantages of the instant invention should now become apparent. Specifically, thedevice 10 with all the various necessary components therein, is a completely selfcontained portable visual readout display device which requires no further components to be operational and is to be distinguished from the complex plug and interconnected readout portion systems prevelent in the prior art.

As noted previously, thedevice 10 of the instant invention is further provided with improved ejection means broadly designated 42 for facilitating removal of theplug portion 24 and thesockets 26 from the corresponding portions of the receptacle associated with the meter being read. The ejection means includes a generallyflat ejection plate 44 provided with an elongated rectangular opening 46 therein such that the plate surrounds theplug portion 24. Theplate 44 is pivotally secured to the casing at 48, and as suggested in phantom in FIG. 1, is movable between a first position in which theplate 44 lies flush on therear surface 22 of the cas-, ing and a second position in which theejection plate 44 is swung out away from thesurface 22 such that the device l0 will be pushed of of the receptacle into which it was plugged during the reading operation. It will be appreciated that the opening 46 in theplate 44 is slightly longer than theplug portion 24 such that the plate may be non-interferringly swung between its first and second position illustrated in FIG. I.

For pivoting the ejection plate between its first and second positions, the ejection means includes a pair ofdepressible finger plates 50 and 52 disposed on opposite sides of thehandle portion 28 of the casing. Each of thefinger plates 50 and 52 are connected byside plates 54 and 56 to theejector plate 44 at a point below thepivoting fulcrum 48. Thus, whether left handed or right handed, all the operator has to do is to depress the thereby materially assisting the operator in removing the plug portion and sockets from the corresponding portions of the receptacle into which it was plugged. It will be appreciated that regardless of the shape or configuration of the protective housing surrounding the receptacle into which the device of the instant invention is plugged, the large surface area made available by theplanar ejector plate 44 of the instant invention will guarantee that at least some portion of theplate 44 will come into pushing engagement with some portion of the receptacle into which the device is plugged.

Returning to the specific construction of the casing, it will be seen that thecasing half 12 is provided withoutstanding tabs 58 along the outline thereof. Similarly,casing half 14 is provided withcomplementary recesses 60 following the outline thereof. It will be appreciated that such tabs are received by the corresponding recesses (in a tongue and groove fashion) when the halves are secured to one another for example by fastening means (such as screws not shown) passing through alignedopenings 62 provided in the casing halves l2 and 14.

In similar fashion, printedcircuit boards 32 and are supported inslots 64 and channeledguideways 66 respectively which are provided on the complementary casing halves l2 and 14 and which captively hold such printed circuit boards when the halves l2 and 14 are secured to one another. In like manner, the casing halves include openended slots 68, 70 which confront each other when the halves are secured to one another to establish the generally rectangular viewing opening 34. Moreover, the casing halves includechannelways 72, 74 which slidably receive and captivate a transparentprotective shield 76 when the halves are secured to one another.

In similar fasion, the interior walls of that portion of the casing halves which define the aforementionedfirst comparment 18 includepositioning projections 78 for positioning thebatteries 36 with respect to one another. It will be appreciated that the width of the casing at the vicinity of thecompartment 18 corresponds to the length of the individual batteries indicated by the dimension 80 in FIG. 2. Thus when the casing halves l2 and 14 are secured to one another, theside walls 80 and 82 will captively prevent the batteries from experiencing side to side motion while theprojections 78 will keep thebatteries 36 properly spaced one above each other.

As seen in FIG. 2, one of thebatteries 36 is housed in thecompartment 20 which is significantly wider than the length of thebatteries 36. However, and as seen in FIGS. 1, upstanding from theside walls 84 and 86 of the casing halves l2 and 14 are provided supporting andpositioning seats 88 having lips '90 associated therewith which captivate thebattery 36 when the halves l2 and 14 are secured to one another in the manner previously described.

,From the above, the unique simplified construction of the instant invention and the ease of assembly and disassembly should now become apparent. Thus the various parts described are simply located in the respective slots and guideways or with respect to the aforedescribed projections, and the two casing halves l2 and 14 are secured to one another. With this one step operation, all of the various internal parts (i.e., the

batteries, the printed circuit boards, the viewing member, etc.) are all captively sandwiched between the respective surfaces of the casing halves l2 and 14. It should be noted that the casing halves are of suitable plastic material and preferably injection molded.

Although this invention has been described with respect to its preferred embodiments, it should be understood that many variations and modifications will now be obvious to those skilled in the art, and it is preferred, therefore, that the scope of the invention be limited, not by the specific disclosure herein, only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A self-contained portable device for displaying a reading of information available at a receptacle; said device containing:

a casing having an interior chamber, said casing further including an outstanding plug portion for removable connection to said receptable;

display means located in said interior chamber;

- electrical supply means located in said interior chamber and electrical circuit means located in said interior chamber and energized by said supply means for causing said display means to display a reading representative of said information; wherein said casing includes externally accessible conductive pins leading to said interior chamber whereby said electrical supply means may be recharged from the exterior of said casing.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein a first group of said batteries are located above each other in said first compartment;

said first compartment having a width corresponding to the length of each of said batteries;

the interior walls of said casing which define said first compartment having inwardly extending positioning projections extending into said first compartment for positioning said betteries.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said second compartment has a width greater than the width of said first compartment; at least one of said plurality of batteries being located in said second compartment;

the interior walls of said casing which define said second compartment having inwardly extending positioning and supporting projections extending into said second compartment for positioning and supporting said one battery. I,

4. A self-contained portable device for displaying a reading of information available at a receptacle; said device containing: 1

a casing having an interior chamber, said casing further including an outstanding plug portion for removable connectionto said receptacle;

display means located in said interior chamber;

self-contained electrical supply means located in said interior chamber; and

electrical circuit means located in said interior chamber and energized by said supply means for causing said display means to display a reading representative of said information; and wherein said casing further includes manually operable ejection means for facilitating removal of said plug portion from said receptacle; and wherein said ejection means comprises:

a generally fiat ejection plate surrounding said plug portion of said casing, said ejection plate being pivotally secured to said casing and movable between a first position in which said ejection plate lies flush on the surface of said casing from which said plug portion extends and a second position in which said 5 ejection plate is swung out away from said surface;

and manually operable means for pivoting said ejection plate between its first and second position.

. 5. The device of claim 4 wherein said casing includes a handle portion, and said manually operable means includes a pair of depressable finger plates disposed on opposite sides of said handle portion, each of said finger plates being secured to said ejection plate below the pivotal connection of said ejection plate to said casing;

whereby depression of either of said finger plates will pivot said ejection plate between its first and second position.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said interior chamber is divided into two compartments, a first compartment housing said electrical supply means, and a second compartment housing said display means;

, wherein said electrical supply means comprises a plurality of batteries;

wherein a first group of batteries are located above each other in said first compartment; said first compartment having a width corresponding to the length of each of said batteries;

the interior walls of said casing which define said first compartment having positioning projections extending into said first compartment for positioning said batteries; and

wherein said second compartment has a width greater than the width of said first compartment; at least one of said plurality of batteries being located in said second compartment; the interior walls of said casing which define said second compartment having positioning and supporting projections extending into said second compartment for positioning and supporting said one battery.

7. A self-contained portable device for displaying a reading of information available at a receptacle, said device containing;

a casing having an interior chamber, said casing further including an outstanding plugportion for removable connection to said receptacle;

display means located in said interior chamber; selfcontained electrical supply means located in said interior chamber; and f electrical circuit means located in said interior chamber and energized by said supply means for causing said-display means to display a reading representative of said information; and wherein said interior chamber is divided into two compartments, a first compartment housing said electrical supply means, and second compartment housing said display means.

8. A self-contained portable device for displaying a reading of information available at a receptacle; said device containing:

a casing having an interior chamber, said casing further including an outstanding plug portion for removable connection to said receptacle;

display means located in said interior chamber;

electrical supply means located in said interior chamber; and

electrical circuit means located in said interior chamher and energized by said supply means for causing said display means to display a reading representative of said information: and wherein said interior chamber is divided into two compartments, a first compartment housing said electrical supply means, and a second compartment housing said display means; and wherein said electrical supply means comprises a plurality of batteries.

9. A self-contained portable device for displaying a reading of information available at a receptacle; said device containing:

a casing having an interior chamber, said casing further including an outstanding plug portion for removable connection to said receptacle;

display means located in said interior chamber;

electrical supply means located in said interior chamber; and

electrical circuit means located in said interior chamber and energized by said supply means for causing said display means to display a reading representative of said information; and wherein said interior chamber is divided into two compartments, a first compartment housing said electrical supply means, and a second compartment housing said display means; and wherein said electrical supply means comprises a plurality of batteries; and wherein said batteries are rechargeable; and

wherein said casing includes externally accessible conductive pins leading to said interior chamber whereby said batteries may be recharged from the exterior of said casing.

10. A self-contained device for displaying a reading of information available at a receptacle; said device containing:

a casing having an interior chamber, said casing further including an outstanding plug portion for removable connection to said receptacle;

display means located in said interior chamber;

electrical supply means located in said interior chamber; and

electrical circuit means located in said interior chamber energized by said supply means for causing said display means to display a reading representative of said information; wherein said casing is constructed of two casing halves removably secured to one another; and wherein said interior chamber is divided into two compartments, a first compartment housing said electrical supply means, said second compartment housing said display means.

11. A self-contained device for displaying a reading of information available at a receptacle; said device containing:

a casing having an interior chamber, said casing further including an outstanding plug portion for removable connection to said receptacle;

display means located in said interior chamber;

electrical supply means located in said interior chamber; and

electrical circuit means located in said interior chamber energized by said supply means for causing said display means to display a reading representative of said information; wherein said casing is constructed of two casing halves removably secured to one another; and wherein said interior chamber is divided into two compartments, a first compartment housing said electrical supply means, said second compartment housing said display means; and wherein one of said casing halves is provided with outstanding tabs along the outline thereof, and the other of said casing halves is provided with complementary recesses along the outline thereof;

said recesses receiving said tabs when said halves are removably secured to one another; and wherein both of said halves include open ended slots which confront one another when said halves are secured to one another to establish a viewing opening through said casing; said halves having channe1- ways surrounding said slots; and

a transparent protective member slidably received by said channelways when said halves are secured to one another.

12. The device of claim I 1 wherein said casing halves include preselectively located slots and channel guideways for captively supporting printed circuit boards associated with said display means and circuit means respectively when said casing halves are secured to one another.

13. A self-contained portable device for displaying a reading of information available at a receptacle; said device containing:

a casing having an interior chamber, said casing further including an outstanding plug portion for removable connection to said receptacle;

display means located in said interior chamber;

electrical supply means located in said interior chamber; and

electrical circuit means located in said interior chamber and energized by said supply means for causing said display means to display a reading representative of said information; and wherein said casing further includes manually operable ejection means for facilitating removal of said plug portion from said receptacle; and wherein said ejection means comprises:

a generally flat ejection plate surrounding said plug portion of said casing, said ejection plate being pivotally secured to said casing and movable between a first position in which said ejection plate lies flush on the surface of said casing from which said plug portion extends and a second position in which said ejection plate is swung out away from said surface; and

manually operable means for pivoting said ejection plate between its first and second position; and wherein said casing includes a handle portion, and said manually operable means includes a pair of depressable finger plates disposed on opposite sides of said handle portion, each of said finger plates being secured to said ejection plate below the pivotal connection of said ejection plate to said casing;

whereby depression of either of said finger plates will pivot said ejection plate between its first and second position; and wherein said casing is constructed of two casing halves removably secured to one another;

wherein one of said casing halves is provided with outstanding tabs along the outline thereof, and the other of said casing halves is provided with complementary recesses along the outline thereof; said recesses receiving said tabs when said halves are removably secured to one another; and

wherein both of said halves include open ended slots which confront one another when said halves are secured to one another to establish a viewing opening through said casing; said halves having channelways surrounding said slots; and

a transparent protective member slidably received by said channelways when said halves are secured to one another.

i k I

Claims (13)

1. A self-contained portable device for displaying a reading of information available at a receptacle; said device containing: a casing having an interior chamber, said casing further including an outstanding plug portion for removable connection to said receptable; display means located in said interior chamber; electrical supply means located in said interior chamber ; and electrical Circuit means located in said interior chamber and energized by said supply means for causing said display means to display a reading representative of said information; wherein said casing includes externally accessible conductive pins leading to said interior chamber whereby said electrical supply means may be recharged from the exterior of said casing.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein a first group of said batteries are located above each other in said first compartment; said first compartment having a width corresponding to the length of each of said batteries; the interior walls of said casing which define said first compartment having inwardly extending positioning projections extending into said first compartment for positioning said betteries.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said second compartment has a width greater than the width of said first compartment; at least one of said plurality of batteries being located in said second compartment; the interior walls of said casing which define said second compartment having inwardly extending positioning and supporting projections extending into said second compartment for positioning and supporting said one battery.

4. A self-contained portable device for displaying a reading of information available at a receptacle; said device containing: a casing having an interior chamber, said casing further including an outstanding plug portion for removable connection to said receptacle; display means located in said interior chamber; self-contained electrical supply means located in said interior chamber; and electrical circuit means located in said interior chamber and energized by said supply means for causing said display means to display a reading representative of said information; and wherein said casing further includes manually operable ejection means for facilitating removal of said plug portion from said receptacle; and wherein said ejection means comprises: a generally flat ejection plate surrounding said plug portion of said casing, said ejection plate being pivotally secured to said casing and movable between a first position in which said ejection plate lies flush on the surface of said casing from which said plug portion extends and a second position in which said ejection plate is swung out away from said surface; and manually operable means for pivoting said ejection plate between its first and second position.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said casing includes a handle portion, and said manually operable means includes a pair of depressable finger plates disposed on opposite sides of said handle portion, each of said finger plates being secured to said ejection plate below the pivotal connection of said ejection plate to said casing; whereby depression of either of said finger plates will pivot said ejection plate between its first and second position.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said interior chamber is divided into two compartments, a first compartment housing said electrical supply means, and a second compartment housing said display means; wherein said electrical supply means comprises a plurality of batteries; wherein a first group of batteries are located above each other in said first compartment; said first compartment having a width corresponding to the length of each of said batteries; the interior walls of said casing which define said first compartment having positioning projections extending into said first compartment for positioning said batteries; and wherein said second compartment has a width greater than the width of said first compartment; at least one of said plurality of batteries being located in said second compartment; the interior walls of said casing which define said second compartment having positioning and supporting projections extending into said second compartment for positioning and supporting said one battery.

7. A self-contained portable device for displaying a reading of informatIon available at a receptacle, said device containing; a casing having an interior chamber, said casing further including an outstanding plug portion for removable connection to said receptacle; display means located in said interior chamber; self-contained electrical supply means located in said interior chamber; and electrical circuit means located in said interior chamber and energized by said supply means for causing said display means to display a reading representative of said information; and wherein said interior chamber is divided into two compartments, a first compartment housing said electrical supply means, and second compartment housing said display means.

8. A self-contained portable device for displaying a reading of information available at a receptacle; said device containing: a casing having an interior chamber, said casing further including an outstanding plug portion for removable connection to said receptacle; display means located in said interior chamber; electrical supply means located in said interior chamber; and electrical circuit means located in said interior chamber and energized by said supply means for causing said display means to display a reading representative of said information: and wherein said interior chamber is divided into two compartments, a first compartment housing said electrical supply means, and a second compartment housing said display means; and wherein said electrical supply means comprises a plurality of batteries.

9. A self-contained portable device for displaying a reading of information available at a receptacle; said device containing: a casing having an interior chamber, said casing further including an outstanding plug portion for removable connection to said receptacle; display means located in said interior chamber; electrical supply means located in said interior chamber; and electrical circuit means located in said interior chamber and energized by said supply means for causing said display means to display a reading representative of said information; and wherein said interior chamber is divided into two compartments, a first compartment housing said electrical supply means, and a second compartment housing said display means; and wherein said electrical supply means comprises a plurality of batteries; and wherein said batteries are rechargeable; and wherein said casing includes externally accessible conductive pins leading to said interior chamber whereby said batteries may be recharged from the exterior of said casing.

10. A self-contained device for displaying a reading of information available at a receptacle; said device containing: a casing having an interior chamber, said casing further including an outstanding plug portion for removable connection to said receptacle; display means located in said interior chamber; electrical supply means located in said interior chamber; and electrical circuit means located in said interior chamber energized by said supply means for causing said display means to display a reading representative of said information; wherein said casing is constructed of two casing halves removably secured to one another; and wherein said interior chamber is divided into two compartments, a first compartment housing said electrical supply means, said second compartment housing said display means.

11. A self-contained device for displaying a reading of information available at a receptacle; said device containing: a casing having an interior chamber, said casing further including an outstanding plug portion for removable connection to said receptacle; display means located in said interior chamber; electrical supply means located in said interior chamber; and electrical circuit means located in said interior chamber energized by said supply means for causing said display means to display a reading representative of said information; wherein said casing is constructed of two casing halves removaBly secured to one another; and wherein said interior chamber is divided into two compartments, a first compartment housing said electrical supply means, said second compartment housing said display means; and wherein one of said casing halves is provided with outstanding tabs along the outline thereof, and the other of said casing halves is provided with complementary recesses along the outline thereof; said recesses receiving said tabs when said halves are removably secured to one another; and wherein both of said halves include open ended slots which confront one another when said halves are secured to one another to establish a viewing opening through said casing; said halves having channelways surrounding said slots; and a transparent protective member slidably received by said channelways when said halves are secured to one another.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein said casing halves include preselectively located slots and channel guideways for captively supporting printed circuit boards associated with said display means and circuit means respectively when said casing halves are secured to one another.

13. A self-contained portable device for displaying a reading of information available at a receptacle; said device containing: a casing having an interior chamber, said casing further including an outstanding plug portion for removable connection to said receptacle; display means located in said interior chamber; electrical supply means located in said interior chamber; and electrical circuit means located in said interior chamber and energized by said supply means for causing said display means to display a reading representative of said information; and wherein said casing further includes manually operable ejection means for facilitating removal of said plug portion from said receptacle; and wherein said ejection means comprises: a generally flat ejection plate surrounding said plug portion of said casing, said ejection plate being pivotally secured to said casing and movable between a first position in which said ejection plate lies flush on the surface of said casing from which said plug portion extends and a second position in which said ejection plate is swung out away from said surface; and manually operable means for pivoting said ejection plate between its first and second position; and wherein said casing includes a handle portion, and said manually operable means includes a pair of depressable finger plates disposed on opposite sides of said handle portion, each of said finger plates being secured to said ejection plate below the pivotal connection of said ejection plate to said casing; whereby depression of either of said finger plates will pivot said ejection plate between its first and second position; and wherein said casing is constructed of two casing halves removably secured to one another; wherein one of said casing halves is provided with outstanding tabs along the outline thereof, and the other of said casing halves is provided with complementary recesses along the outline thereof; said recesses receiving said tabs when said halves are removably secured to one another; and wherein both of said halves include open ended slots which confront one another when said halves are secured to one another to establish a viewing opening through said casing; said halves having channelways surrounding said slots; and a transparent protective member slidably received by said channelways when said halves are secured to one another.

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